Freezing device



Dec. 18, 1956 E. F. SCHW ELLER v FREEZING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1954 INVENTOR. B :z'dimma' E .Schwe/ler. 2. E. M).

His Attorney.

FREEZING DEVICE Edmund F. Schweller, Dayton, Ohio, assignorto General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application December 6, 1954, Serial No.-473,107

2 Claims. (Cl. 62.-108.5)

This invention relates to freezing devices for use in household refrigerators to produce small ice blocks.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved freezing characteristics of a metal tray are retained while ice blocks frozen in compartments of the device are readily and quickly removed therefrom in anovel fashion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a freezing Sttes atent O 'freezing device of the tray and grid type wherein fastdevice from which single ice blocks may be successively and selectively harvested without disturbing other blocks therein and leaving these other blocks bonded to walls of the grid and tray of the device for future harvesting therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lowcost freezing device including a substantially rigid sheet metal tray and a grid structure therein forming ic'e' block compartments from which ice blocks are removable by pressure applied thereto by a persons finger through -a movable resilient member forming apart of the upright tray side walls.

A still further and more specific object ofm inven- 'tion is to provide a freezing device including a sheet metal 'tra'yhaving ice block freezing compartments therein each provided with an inclined wallhaving an'op'em ings'therein closed by a flexible resilient'rnernber-secured to the edge portion of the tray bounding the op'ening and which member is thrustable against an :i'cebloel;

in thecomp'artment by pressure appliedthieto by one'is "finger-for loosening a single ice block fro-rn walls ofathe compartment andfor elevating the singlelsenedblo'ek relative-to the tray while leaving other iceblocksfiinrthe device bonded to walls of their compartment.

Fu rther-objects-and advantages of th'e present invention will be apparent from the following description,-

reference being had to the "accompanying drawings,

wherein preferred forms of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ic e=f;reezing de- 'vice having my'invention-embodied therein.

iFigure 2 is an'enlarged vertical sectional iewitaken onfthe line 2'2of,Figure 1 showing an .ice b'lo'ckt-iin the-freezing, device and resilient rubber-likememb'ranes in the-upright side wallsof the trayofthedevice.

vFigure? is a view similar to Figurel-with -resil'ient membranes of the device flexedrelative;:to-wallsofldhe tray. and showing anice block 10OS6lId='fIQm WQHSwOf "the device and elevated from-its compartment.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of-a modifiedaform -lof icefreezing device showing a'grid structure disposedin the tray thereof.

*FigureS is an enlarged Vertical sectionalvie'wntaken -on-..the line 5 5 of Figure 4 showingice blocks in the device, a tapered -,longitudinal. wall; of-the grid therein; and resilient rubber-like-membranes insideqwalls ofathe tray :thereof.

-Figure-6-is a-view sirnilarto' Figure 5 showing an'ice block loosened from its compartmentwalls'and elevated 1 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 "piece from" sheet metal. This tray has a substantially fiat bottom wall 11-, end walls and upright sidewalls '12 Sheet metal side walls 12 of the tray are inclined outwardly fromthe bottom to the top thereof. A rolled over rim 14 formed integral on the tray extends continuously around the top thereof to increase its structural strength' and prevent deformation of same. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart grid or partitioning" walls to excess transversely across the tray and dividetlie interior thereof into a plurality of ice block freezing cells "or compartments 1 7 or a row of'suclrcompartine'nts in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks indicated at ;1"8"(s ee-'Figures 2 and 3). The cross walls 16 ar'e rigidly secured to the tray in parallel relationship to endanother by welding or brazing the sameto'its bottom 11 and upright side walls 12. Each" of the inclined 's ide walls -1- 2'of t lie tray is prnvidedwith a row of substantially round openings therein disposedat the sides of compartments 17. The metal of the tray bounding each opening in the side walls thereof is flanged outwardly 30 as at 21 to provide a depression in the tray sidewalls surrounding the round openings therein. This olf'sets' the edge portions of the openings laterally with respect to the inclined tray side walls 12. A flexible resilient nonmetallic rubberlike membrane, thin round disc or button mer'nber 22 is disposed'in each opening in the 'side walls 12 of the tray and seals the openings. Each member .22 is provided with a groove 23"exte'nding c1ontinuous ly arounnd its edge and when the members 22 are forced into the openings in the tray walls, this groove 23 fits over and is interlocked with the offset 'e'dge portion of the sheet metal sides of the tray bounding the openings therein. The flexible and resilient rubber-like membranes or button members 22 may "be formed Jot an elastomer such as butadieneacrylonitrite copolyrne r, polychloroprene, etc., whichmaterials are re adilybond'ed to metal by methods now conventional and well known to those sk illed in the art. {Thus the flexible members :22 in addition to being mechanically interlocked inposition in the openings in t he tray side walls 12, by the grooves 123, mayalso be bonded to the metal tray'w all s about the openings therein to insure a watertight seal thereof and to prevent the members '2 2ifrom being accidentally detached fromthe ice tray. The inner portion of .eachLrubber-like member 22 fills the depression on 5.5

the in'side-of tray side walls 12"a1djacent each opening therein and-)theinnen-sur face thereof is flush with the 'i nner-surface of these side Walls soa's to provide an un obstructed substantially smooth inner wall surface at opposite ends of the ice block compartments '17. The

:rubber-likemembraues form push buttons adapted to be flexed'by' p ressureof ones finger to apply aitlir'ustlik'eforce' to any one ice block 1'8 for a purpose to new be described.

frozen into .the ice blocks 18 ina refrigerator cahinetthe After water placed in thetray of the-freezing device, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, :has'beeii completely freezing device is removed from the. cabinet for permitting the-harvesting of asingle selected ice block or the successiveharvesting of aplurality of. ice blocks fror'ri'the -;freezing compartments 17 in'the device. In order to accomplishthe removal of an ice block 18 one of the rubber- ;lilce' membrane members or buttons22' on one side; of

the tray or both of them on opposite sides of the tray is or are manually compressed in a direction inwardly of a compartment 17 against the ice block 18 therein by the pressure of v ones fingers. This force applied to an ice block 18 initially breaks a bond between same and walls of its compartment 17 and continued force applied by the fingers to the button members 22 thereafter pushes the buttons laterally into the compartment and thrusts the loosened ice block 13 upwardly within its compartment 17 whereupon it slides along the walls 16 to move a top portion thereof above the top of walls 16 (see Figure 3). The single loosened elevated ice block 18 may be grasped by the fingers of a persons hand or by suitable ice tongs for harvesting it from the device. Obviously as many ice blocks as are desired may be successively removed one at a time by repeating the operation just described along the length of the tray. By engaging opposed buttons 22 and simultaneously applying force thereto the task of re leasing an ice block is greatly reduced and can be carried out with ease. The ice blocks to be removed are harvested from the device without disturbing otherof the ice blocks 18 therein to thereby leave these other ice blocks bonded to walls of their compartments. I

In Figure 4 of the drawings there is shown a somewhat .modified form of freezing device in which the principle of my invention is employed. In this showing a rigid metal tray and is removable therefrom as a unit so as to facilitate cleaning of the grid and tray. The rigid sheet metal tray in this modified showing is substantially like the tray I have disclosed in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings but is slightly wider in order that walls of the unitary grid disposed thereinmay partition or divide the interior of the tray into two rows of ice block freezing compartments.

. The tray in the modification shown in Figure 4 includes a flat bottom wall 11A, end walls, upright outwardly inclined side walls 12A and an integral rolled over rim 14A at the top thereof extending continuously around the tray. The inclined upright tray side walls 12A are provided with a row of substantially round openings flanged outwardly as at 21A. A resilient rubber-like membrane or button member 22A, similar in all respects to the member walled grid structure is disposed in an elongated sheet ice block 18A from this modified form of freezing device.

The removable grid structure in this modified device includes a rigid longitudinal wall 31 and a plurality of spaced apart rigid parallel walls 32 extending transversely thereacross and across the tray to divide the interior of the tray into rows of ice block freezing cells or compartments 33 in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks. The

, longitudinal grid wall 31 is tapered outwardly from the top to the bottom thereof (see Figure 5) to provide this wall with inclined surfaces for the ice block compartments 33. Transverse walls 32 are preferably, although not necessarily, provided with flat surfaces which are parallel to one another. A web part 36 (see Figure 7) of each transverse wall 32, above a slot provided therein, fits in a slot 37 cut in the tapered longitudinal wall 31.

These walls 31 and 32 are staked or otherwise suitably secured together at their intersection with one another as is now conventional and well known in the art.

After water is frozen into the ice blocks 18A in the modified freezing device disclosed in Figure 4 of theoremings this device is removed from the refrigerator cabinet for permitting the harvesting of a single selected ice block 18A or the successive removal of a plurality of the ice blocks one at a time from compartments 33 of the device. One of the membranes or button members 22A on one side of the tray ismanually compressed in a direction inwardly of a compartment 33 against an ice block 18A by the pressure of ones finger. This applies a thrusting force to the ice block which breaks the bond between same and walls of its compartment 33. Continued force applied to the now loosened ice block 18A pushes the buttons laterally into the compartment and causes same to elevate an ice block 18A in its compartment 33 relative to the tray end grid whereby the block 18A slides upwardly along the inclined partitioning wall 31 to shift a portionthereof above the grid Walls 31 and 32 (see Figure 6). This single loosened and elevated ice block 18A may be grasped by the fingers or by suitable ice tongs and removed from the freezing device. As many ice blocks 18A as are desired may be removed one at a time in succession by repeating this ice block harvesting manipulation of the buttons 22A along the length of the tray. The removed ice blocks are harvested from the device without disturbing other of the ice blocks 18A therein whereby these other blocks remain in the device bonded to walls of compartments therein. It is to be understood that if two end to end ice blocks in this modified device is desired to be harvested together therefrom the fingers of ones hand may be placed in straddling relation to the tray so as to simultaneously engage and apply a force to the button members 22A on opposite sides of the tray whereupon two transversely opposed ice blocks 18A will be loosened from their compartment walls and slid upwardly thereof along the tapered surfaces of the longitudinal grid wall 31.

The openings in walls of the trays of the devices disclosed are effectively sealed by the membrane or buttonmembers 22 and 22A and the resiliency of these flexible members causes them to asume their original normal position, as shown in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, when the fingers of ones hand are released therefrom. A simple and inexpensive freezing device is thus provided and my invention permits retension of the fast freezing characteristics of a metal tray while at the same time providing for the quick and easy removal of one or more ice blocks from the device. Bonding of the rubber-like membrane or button members 22 and 22A to the metal trays is preferred so as to prevent these members from becoming loose and being removed from the tray. Ice cubes or blocks can be harvested from my improved freezing device without application of heat thereto and without manipulating grid wall moving levers, etc., which tend to increase the manufacturing cost of such freezing devices.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A freezing device comprising, an elongated sheet metal tray provided with a row of compartments in which water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks, said tray having an uninterrupted continuously flat bottom adapted to be supported on a freezing member whereby to retain the fast freezing characteristics of the metal tray, at least one wall of each of said compartments being inclined outwardly from said bottom of the tray to the top thereof, an upright side wall of said tray having spaced apart openings therein each opposed to the said one wall of said compartments, the edge portion of said tray side wall adjacent and said prying action shifting said single ice block in a straight line direction upwardly along said inclined wall to position a portion of said single ice block above a compartment Wall while leaving other ice blocks in said device bonded to said tray.

2. A freezing device comprising an elongated metal tray having an uninterrupted continuously flat bottom adapted to be supported on a freezing member whereby to retain the fast freezing characteristics of the metal tray, a grid structure disposed in said tray and removable therefrom, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of spaced apart walls extending transversely thereacross to divide the interior of said tray into rows of compartments in which water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks, said longitudinal grid wall being tapered outwardly from the top to the bottom thereof to provide inclined wall surfaces opposing each upright long sides of said tray, the upright long sides of said tray having an opening therein at each of said compartments defined by said transverse grid walls, the edge portion of said tray sides adjacent openings therein being flanged outwardly and forming a depression therein, a resilient membrane in each opening in said tray sides and interlocked with said edge portion of said openings, said membranes filling said depressions and having their inner surface flush with the inner surface of said tray sides, said membranes being exposed at sides of said tray, said membranes being manually flexed one at a time in succession throughout the length of said tray toward one of said inclined surfaces of said tapered longitudinal grid wall therein to selectively pry a single ice block thereagainst, and said prying action shifting said single ice block in a straight line direction upwardly along said inclined longitudinal grid wall surface to position a portion of said single ice block above said grid walls while leaving other ice blocks in said device bonded to their compartment walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,053,711 Glomb Sept. 8, 1936 2,217,681 Jennings Oct. 15, 1940 2,269,642 Zerk Jan. 13, 1942 2,699,654 Rhoades Jan. 18, 1955 

